The release of 16 detainees, due to lack of evidence, is the "biggest blunder" in the history of the Police Service. So said president of Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Sgt Anand Ramesar, yesterday. The State claimed the 16 were detained after allegedly hatching a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three Cabinet Ministers. Ramesar demanded that Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs be hauled before the disciplinary committee to answer several charges, including:
• Unlawful exercise of authority;
• oppressive conduct; and
• discredible conduct
He cited that coupled with the release of the 16 was also the release of some 227 people who were branded as alleged gang members and held under the Anti Gang Legislation. He added: "This is the biggest blunder in the history of the Police Service. It raises an alarm and it is a deadly blow to the confidence of the country's security forces." Questioning the validity of the arrests, Ramesar said law enforcement officials not only erred 16 times but "some 227 times with the release of the alleged gang members." He also called on the Police Service Commission to be mindful of its duty and ensure there was proper accountability within the Police Service.
"And this is especially important when breaches of the fundamental rights of citizens are being committed," Ramesar added. Questioned how the Police Service could improve its perceived tarnished image, Ramesar said it was simply by getting rid of "undesirables", starting with the executive of the Police Service. He said: "The 2007 regulations were designed to remove rogue elements. Any one action or inaction which has caused irreputable damage to the image of the Police Service must be dealt with. "We can identify several undesirable persons of having exhibited behaviour not consistent with good policing." He said with the freeing of the 16 detainees and the admission on the part of the service's executive of lack of evidence to lay charges, he did not know if to believe whether the assassination plot was true or not.
"I do not know what to believe any more. The actions themselves is characterised by circumstances that make one look at the credibility on a minimum basis," Ramesar said. He said junior officers, who would have received instructions from their superiors to act on the alleged plot, were "used, abused and left subsequently left alone to suffer the consequences." Asserting that the time was "long overdue" for Gibbs to properly take charge of the Police Service, Ramesar said he has demonstrated the ability of a laissez-faire leader. "We want a proactive leader and it's time the commissioner assumes that role," he added.